Cohoes: A CapNY City The Nation is Watching

Updated: July 2025

“One groundbreaking achievement that stands out is the floating solar array on the water reservoir, a project that makes Cohoes the first in the nation to generate 100% municipal electricity while offering 40% surplus energy to the school district. This has not only been environmentally conscious but also instrumental in promoting Cohoes on a national and global scale, attracting the attention of businesses and governmental bodies.”
  • A Conversation with Cohoes City Planner, Joseph Seman-Graves

In the heart of New York’s Capital Region, Joseph’s journey has been part of the driving force behind the resurgence of Cohoes. Born in Greene County of CapNY, he embarked on a path that took him from Albany to Seattle and back again, eventually leading him to become the City Planner of Cohoes in 2019.

With a background in city planning and hands-on experience in construction oversight acquired in Seattle, he wound up in CapNY with a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm.

He discovered a unique niche in working on energy-related projects, not only saving the city money but also allowing them to reinvest in critical programs such as social services and capital projects. Over the span of four years, he and his team leveraged an impressive $35 million in public funding to attract and retain private investments.

Photo: https://www.ci.cohoes.ny.us/

In the past two years, Cohoes has seen a remarkable transformation guided by three key pillars: infrastructure development, the restoration of historic buildings, and environmental sustainability.

  • Infrastructure Development

Cohoes has invested heavily in infrastructure improvements, including upgrading sidewalks, planting trees, enhancing parks, and creating a stunning waterfront park complete with a dock. The emphasis on green spaces and livability has attracted new businesses, residents, and investors, marking a notable difference from seven years ago. The city has also introduced charging stations for electric vehicles, making it more attractive for environmentally-conscious individuals and businesses.

  • Historic Buildings

Cohoes recognized the value of preserving its historic architecture. Significant funds have been allocated to restore iconic buildings like City Hall, the library, and the music hall. What’s particularly innovative is the city’s commitment to making these buildings carbon-neutral, pioneering the removal of gas and making them the first of their kind in the state and the nation. The Cohoes Music Hall stands as the first carbon-neutral music venue in the country, showcasing Cohoes’ commitment to sustainability.

Photo: https://www.preservenys.org/blog/cohoes-music-hall
  • Environmental Sustainability

To encourage private building and homeowners in downtown Cohoes to modernize their properties while respecting their historical significance, the city has offered open tax incentives. This initiative breathes new life into the city’s architecture while preserving its rich heritage.

Cohoes is now witnessing the development of new rental and commercial units, creating a more dynamic and attractive urban landscape.

Further contributing to Cohoes’ transformation, the introduction of new recycling bins for every member of the community, combined with efforts to improve street lighting, has been instrumental in securing additional grants and enhancing the city’s appeal.

One groundbreaking achievement that stands out is the floating solar array on the water reservoir, a project that makes Cohoes the first in the nation to generate 100% municipal electricity while offering 40% surplus energy to the school district. This has not only been environmentally conscious but also instrumental in promoting Cohoes on a national and global scale, attracting the attention of businesses and governmental bodies.

  • A Magnet for Entrepeneurs

Cohoes has become a magnet for entrepreneurs and small businesses. The city’s unique blend of history, compact downtown, and picturesque waterfront location, free from high-rises, sets it apart. Its strategic location near Interstate 787 and the Thruway offers untapped potential for investment and growth.

Local businesses are thriving, with establishments like Smith’s Taproom bustling with activity from afternoon to evening. Cohoes’ strong sense of community, combined with word-of-mouth recommendations from established entrepreneurs, has drawn businesses, breweries, and restaurants to the city.

The city’s downtown area is a prime example of revitalization, with a single main street boasting historic storefronts, commercial spaces, outdoor dining, and parks, all within a compact .75-mile radius.

  • A Hidden Gem

Cohoes Falls, a hidden gem, attracts 20,000 visitors annually without any advertising, showcasing the city’s natural beauty and the potential for further growth. The beauty of spots like Cohoes Falls and Peebles Island State Park offer resons for residents and tourists to explore the area.

The Cohoes Music Hall, which hosts concerts, ghost tours, and events like the Mac and Cheese Bowl, is a cultural hub that brings the community together. The city has cultivated a strong sense of community through events like the Trunk or Treat and the Rock the Block concert series.

Cohoes is home to many people with rich histories, who deeply care about the place they call home. This is reflected in the city’s welcoming and warm atmosphere.

Cohoes also nurtures the growth of unique businesses and groups, such as The Planter, Chocolate is Self Care, Chee-Bog, and Bye-i Brewery. The city’s local art scene has also flourished, with partnerships like the one with Albany Center Gallery, leading to stunning murals and galleries that have attracted art enthusiasts.

Cohoes’ transformation is a testament to the dedication and vision of people like Joseph Seman-Graves, who has brought about significant changes in land use, development, and environmental sustainability. The city’s unique blend of history, location, and community spirit has attracted businesses and residents, breathing new life into this historic city. Cohoes stands as a shining example of urban revitalization, showcasing what can be achieved with innovation, vision, and a strong commitment to preserving its heritage.

  • Written by: Gabby Fisher

5 Romantic Spots in CapNY

Updated: July 2025

No matter the season, the Capital Region has some of the most romantic spots for a date night with your special someone!

  • Schenectady Central Park Rose Garden

While you may think of this as a strictly summer activity, the Central Park Rose Garden is truly a place you can visit all year round. Roses may only be in bloom certain months of the year (June-October), but the park is a place of serenity and peace all year long. Formerly maintained by the city’s park department, the rose garden is now consistently enhanced and maintained by a non-profit organization called the Rose Garden Restoration Committee.

If you find giving back to your community together a romantic activity, there are volunteer opportunities to help with garden clean up on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Just walking through you can see how much care is put into the over 4,000 rose bushes. In the center of the garden is a beautiful fountain and you’ll be sure to see some cute creatures hopping around by the pond. Date enhancement: stop by Gershon’s Deli for some fresh sandwiches on your way to the garden. Picnic among roses? Talk about romance!

  • The Berlin

If you’re looking for a reason to dress up and step out, The Berlin is the perfect cozy spot to snuggle up to a loved one while drinking a delicious craft cocktail (we recommend their espresso martini). It’s hard to find many spots across the capital region where you can get dressed in a sexy outfit, but at The Berlin it is definitely the norm. We’re talking velvet couches, dim lighting, and tables for two nestled in the corner for extra privacy. With their craft cocktails and sexy speakeasy vibe, you won’t only fall in love with your date but also the atmosphere! Be sure to check their Instagram for nights with special guests like jazz bands or pianists.

Note: they do not serve food in this space, but EMRY’s Garden is right below the space and run by the same owner. Here they have great small bites, pizzas and more! Looking for something to do before drinks? Troy has the perfect small city feel with a unique city square and waterfront pathway where you’ll see unique art, string lights, and music is always coming from some direction.

  • Cafe Capriccio

Nestled in the heart of Albany, Cafe Capriccio is sourcing their restaurant with local organic products to pair with their freshly made Italian fair. If you want to feel like you’re stepping into your old school Italian grandmother’s house for dinner, that’s what you’ll get here. The steak and gorgonzola gnocchi is a dish you’ll be dreaming about for days after leaving. All the comfort of a home cooked meal but in an intimate and cozy setting. Each booth is spacious and the tables are perfectly placed so that you can enjoy your surroundings while taking in all the unique features of the restaurant. 

They also offer what they call “The Chef’s Table” which is a private dining space for groups of 10-16 people to have a specialized menu and experience. Our favorite part of this place (and the most romantic in our humble opinion)? The Tuscan Garden. This is a small outdoor space with only a few tables surrounded by their urban garden under dim lighting. Only an option for warmer nights, but great to plan ahead for if you’re looking for a unique and special experience for your special someone! Enhance your night: The MVP arena is a short walk away where there are different artists, performers, and events happening on a frequent basis!

  • June Farms

Who doesn’t love doing some yoga amongst baby goats? Okay, maybe it’s not for everyone, but it’s one of many fun things going on at June Farms. We’re talking food truck nights, barn crawls, clam bakes, there is truly something for everyone no matter what you’re into. A trip to June Farms can really be whatever you want it to be. Want to make it a double date? They have a giant line up of events perfect for bigger groups. Rather it just be a night out for two? You can do that too! Just walking around the farm is breathtaking in itself and the perfect opportunity to hold hands while taking in the views. The best part of all the fun happening here is they have cabins right on the property where you can stay to relax and enjoy the beautiful grounds. All of the cabins have a different theme so you can pick your level of romance or even pretend you’re in a big city. One of the cabins is NYC apartment style. Use your imagination to create a day or night(s) of romantic bliss!

  • The Chateau on the Lake

This last spot was actually featured in the Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America. We’re basically famous here now! In the heart of downtown Bolton Landing you will find this adorable white house turned restaurant sitting right on Lake George. Their menu is frequently updated based on local fresh food and quality. It shows when trying to make a reservation how great this spot is…book in advance! From the atmosphere to the food to the gorgeous view of the lake, this is the ultimate romantic evening for two. The Chateau on the Lake is only open seasonally, but it’s worth the wait over the winter months. Dine inside and then grab a seat by one of their outdoor fire pits after dinner to gaze at the lake while engaging in conversation with your special someone. Craving dessert? The beloved ice cream of Stewart’s (a staple here in CapNY) is right down the road.

  • Written by: Kristen Suraci

Making the Move from North Carolina to CapNY: A Career Transplant Story

Updated: July 2025

CapNY is booming with potential, opportunity, & young professionals from all over the world are making the move to our Upstate NY region.
  • Regeneron as a National Leader in Medicine

You may have read throughout this website, and on the news, about local powerhouse Regeneron. Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases, from eye diseases to cancer.

It’s known as one of the hottest places to work in CapNY. In fact, Jackson Inchalik, Data Analytics Developer, moved from North Carolina to CapNY to take a job at this growing company. Here’s his story…

  • When did you relocate & why?

I graduated from High Point University in North Carolina in May 2020 with a job lined up at Regeneron as an Associate Data Developer. Because of months of Covid closures, I spent the final months of my college career with my family at home in Connecticut. When I was ready to venture out on my own, I moved in with another intern-employee conversion in the Rensselaer / North Greenbush area where I have since been living.

  • What’s your role at Regeneron & how did you end up in the field?

I studied Computer Science and Mathematics at my university with little background or experience in Pharmaceuticals. Based off recommendations from other students I had met at my school, I began applying to Regeneron’s established internship program. After initially being turned down from the program, I gathered experience working in IT at Ashley Furniture. The following year I circled back to successfully join Regeneron’s internship program for the summer between my junior and senior year. After a summer of extensive learning and development, I had received a job offer that I excitedly accepted.

  • How does Regeneron’s work culture impact your ability to immerse yourself into CapNY life?

Regeneron has done a terrific job of getting me involved with the local community. From helping in Special Olympics’ training during Regeneron’s Day For Doing Good, to supporting local businesses with our Veteran’s fundraisers, I couldn’t thank Regeneron enough for getting me active in the local community. Regeneron’s workplace values of transparency and teamwork also applies to their interaction with the local community. They dedicated themselves to a high level of involvement and they leave a substantial impact on their local communities each and every year.

  • Why do you love living in CapNY? What is something that’s surprised you about this region?

I don’t think I will ever get over the natural beauty of upstate New York. Long car rides easily become a sightseeing adventure whenever you find yourself in a new area, and I have to admit that I find great peace in the outdoors, especially up here. One thing I was happily surprised by was activity going on in the area. I initially thought it would be much quieter in the region , but I quickly learned from colleagues about the surplus of activities there are between Albany and Saratoga. From horse racing to casinos to even watching a fellow employee’s local band perform at bars (Quick Fix!), there’s plenty to be explored.

  • Written by: Gabby Fisher

5 CapNY Family Owned & Operated Drive-In Movie Theaters

Updated: July 2024

Before there was cable TV and the internet (my own kids can’t imagine such a primitive time) families went out together to enjoy a movie in a car, packed full of kids. Sometimes the neighbor’s kids were mixed in the bunch too. I remember being about 8 years old, and walking to the drive-in movie concession stand with my dad, and the feeling I had when we all got to have our own brown paper lunch bags filled with buttered popcorn…

We lived on a small income, and this was one of the few times when we didn’t have to share the one treat that might have been quickly bought on another type of outing. The small bag of popcorn was all mine! It was like we were on a vacation, and then my parents would even let us have candy after 8pm at night too. I remember seeing people of all ages enjoying the movies that we’d watch together as a family, under the stars.

This article is presented through a content collaboration with ACE and CapNY.  

Kids today don’t like the things we liked back when we were kids right? I’m a parent that has these worried thoughts that many other parents have, and while I have really good kids… kids get bored easily. Would they be excited about sitting on a blanket or lawn chair outside watching the movie? Will my autistic middle child be able to sit through this movie with so many distractions and stimulation going on around him?

We packed the back of our suv with pillows & blankets, some lawn chairs, lots of hopefulness, and loaded ourselves inside and headed to the drive-in-movies for the first time with my children. We found the perfect spot, center of the field, not too close to the screen and not too far of a walk to the snack bar. We opened the back door, put some lawn chairs by our tail end, and set up the blankets and pillows too. It was now time to “officially” prepare for the movie. That means lots of snacks! We walked to the concession building before the movie started. There we rented a little portable radio that some drive-ins offer as an option to run your car radio on the vehicle’s battery, and it also can allow for the movie to be heard better outside of our vehicle while sitting in our lawn chairs.

Next, we needed food and drinks. The menu options now offered in many snack bars at drive-in movie theaters, compare more to pub fare and the food is good. This is a huge life saver as a parent. I didn’t have to rush making dinner and feeding it to the kids before we left the house. We each ordered a main menu item, drinks, and of course you can’t not order freshly popped popcorn and candy to have during the movie. After our picnic style meal, we cleaned up a bit, and then sat back, ready to watch the movie. I will never forget how I immediately felt sharing this cherished childhood memory with my own kids, and watching them experience seeing the largest outdoor movie screen they’d ever seen for the very first time… together as a family, under the stars.

Drive-in movie theaters are almost always owned by a local family living in the very community their theater is in. They don’t make much money off of your movie ticket. The families sell snacks and other foods, and that’s what helps keep these classic old school drive-in movie theaters open and alive for all of us to enjoy still. Some have been here for over 70 years. The concession stands create jobs, and employee people all throughout the duration they are open. Jericho Drive-in for example currently employs over 45 people. Please be sure to visit and support the snack bars when you go to the drive-in movie theater. I know these local family owned businesses will greatly appreciate you for this.

Below are a list of 5 drive-in movie theaters including my two top picks. All mentioned are worth taking a little drive to while visiting each of the counties they are in.

  • HOLLYWOOD DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER Averill Park, New York

Open since 1952. Owned and operated by the Fisher family.

“In 1968 Frank took over the business from his father and still enjoys running it to this day .He has learned everything from the projectors to the concessions when he was just a teenager working with his father and through trial and error and have improved the theater tremendously from those early days.” their website stated. “The Hollywood Drive-In (TM) has been in business for 70 years and over the years has seen many changes. We have always maintained that having fun is what a drive-in is all about. We offer a neat and clean facility with a freshly mowed parking area. At the Hollywood Drive-In (TM) you will find a well trained staff ready to serve you with a relaxed atmosphere for you and your family to enjoy.“

They have also recently remodeled their concession building and have an expanded their menu to suit everyone’s palette. They offer fresh homemade pizza, which you can order by the slice or the whole pie. You can get cooked to order hamburgers, hot dogs and fries… and of course the old time favorite popcorn.

Their website mentions that the popcorn boxes are randomly stuffed with free passes into the drive-in.

Food Permit: Outside food can be brought for a fee; visit website for more information.

Link
  • JERICHO DRIVE-IN & ICE CREAM SHOPPE Glenmont, New York

Open since 1957. Owned and operated by the Chenette family.

I was able to reach and speak with Lisa Chenette by phone, one of the owners of The Jericho Drive-in & Twist Ice Cream Shoppe. She shared with me their family’s story. Jericho Drive-in was purchased in 1995 by Mike Chennette, and has since had a stand alone ice cream shoppe built in 2007 that services both their drive-in movie guests and the general public. This well thought out stand has service windows on both sides of the building, that sits partly inside of the fence surrounding the drive-in, and accessible to non moviegoers who only want to enjoy a cold treat from the ice cream stand. Like their Sweetheart Sundae that tells the sweet story of how Mike’s mother always called his father, Sweetheart. This special sundae was added to their menu in memory of Mike’s father after he passed away, and is only offered around Valentine’s Day, when the ice cream shoppe officially reopens for the season.

Their concession stand was just remodeled and their menu includes Philly cheesesteaks on a toasted bun, and Chinese Egg Rolls made by the local Chinese in Restaurant in their town to support another local small business.

Link
Credit: Jericho Drive In Theater

Here are three more family owned and operated Drive-in movie theaters that I recommended visiting in these different counties here in Upstate New York.

  • HI-WAY DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER Coxsackie, New York

Located between Catskill and Coxsackie NY, Hi-Way Drive-In movie theater is referred to as the ‘Cinema Under The Stars.’ The Gate and the Snack Bar open 90 Minutes Before the 1st Movie starts.

Link
Hi Way Drive In Theater – Facebook Account
  • MALTA DRIVE-IN THEATER Malta, New York

Open since 1949!

This is the Drive-in movie theater that created my own family’s very first drive-in movie memories. I can still remember when my 12yr old son asked for the first time if he could walk his little brother to the concession stand, by himself, and how as a child he felt like this was a move towards growing up. I watched them walk towards the snack bar, holding hands, and walk into the building. I watched and waited for my two boys to walk out of the snack bar and proudly bring back food and drinks for their other brother and their mom. I must say, I love the burgers here. Make sure you grab one from their snack bar when you visit them.

This two screen drive-in theater is family owned and operated by Ed & Tom Caro. “Many of our staff have been working here for years“, Ed shared. Ed & Tom Caro are both very active in the drive-in theater and both of their children have worked at the drive-in in the past too. Ed & Tom have worked towards not only making their drive-in theater a place where families can come to and make memories… they have also encouraged their staff to be a part of their drive-in family too. In fact, Ed shared that “We have a father & daughter, a mother & son, two sisters, and three cousins that all work for us“. This small locally owned family business, welcomes locals and visitors from outside of Saratoga County to come and feel like part of the Caro family too. 

The Caro family added the second movie screen in 2008, and with the new addition they also updated & expanded their restroom area as well. 

Outside Food and beverage can be brought for a fee per car; visit website for more information.

Movie sound is broadcast in stereo over FM radio and can be heard via your car radio or a portable radio that you bring. Additionally, boom boxes can be rented for $5 in the concession stand (limited availability) and they require surrender of your driver’s license until return of the radio. They do not have any speakers on the posts.

Link
  • GLEN DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER Queensbury, New York

Open since 1958! Glen is open 7 nights a week during the season starting at 7:00 PM. Shows start at dusk.

Link
Glen Drive In Theater
  • Written by: Nellie Ackerman-Vellano

Celebrating Pride Month in CapNY: 3 Leaders Who Make it Happen

Updated: July 2025

Pride Month is recognized around the world, to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. It takes place every June, in honor of the historic June 1969 Stonewall Uprising, which helped kickstart the Gay Rights Movement. It’s a month not just to celebrate, but to remember, to honor, to raise awareness, and to support.


Each June, there are dozens of Pride events across CapNY to celebrate and support our LGBTQIA+ communities thanks to area organizations that include:

  • OutHudson: Nonprofit organization serving the LGBTQIA+ community of Columbia County
  • The Pride Center of the Capital Region: Nonprofit organization based in Albany; hosts annual Capital Pride Parade through downtown Albany and Festival in Washington Park, which features food, vendors, live music and performances like Pussycat Dolls’ Carmit Bachar and iHeartRadio Music Award Nominee JORDY.
  • Cafe Euphoria: Trans and Gender Nonconforming worker-owned cafe, coworking space, and curated thrifted clothing store in Troy, hosts an array of pride focused events including open mics, dance nights, drag show brunches, and LGBTQ budgeting workshops. They also serve as food vendors at Pride events like Capital Pride Parade and Festival and Say it Loud! Black and Latin@ Gay Pride.
  • In Our Own Voices Inc.: Organization based in Albany that serves the needs of LGBTQIA+ POC
  • Easton Mountain Retreat Center: Located in Greenwich, NY, Easton Mountain is a community retreat center and sanctuary created by gay men. They provide workshops, programs, and events to celebrate, heal, transform, and integrate body, mind, and spirit.

None of the Pride celebrations would have happened without dedicated individuals who helped bring them together. We spoke with three individuals who helped make events like these happen, and continue to support the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the year. 

  • Nathaniel Gray, Executive Director at the Pride Center for the Capital Region

Nathaniel Gray grew up in southern Ohio and moved to NYC at 19. Gray moved to CapNY in 2019, and recently purchased a home in the hamlet of Glenmont, where he enjoys the newfound space and garden, to escape from the day.

Why is Pride month special to you?

As a month, it is really a placeholder for our Civil Rights movement. June is Pride month because of the Stonewall Riots in late June of 1969. The first pride “parade” was a freedom march for “gay liberation.” The month of June is a lasting reminder, and encouragement, that there is still work to be done for true equity in society.

How are you involved in Pride across CapNY?

The Pride Center of the Capital Region hosts the largest Pride event north of New York City, and each year it grows. This year’s event, held on June 12th, drew crowds larger than previous years when we know our numbers were around 30,000 people. These folks come and celebrate themselves and the people they love, one of the most important things we can do in the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride Center also helped organize an historic number of Pride Flag Raisings in the Capital Region this year, with plans on even more next year. 

Why are you passionate about what you do?

I started getting bullied for being effeminate in 2nd grade; I was 7-years-old the first time someone called me a fa**ot. The most recent time? Four weeks ago. This is my life, and I’m not going to rest in my work, nor is the Pride Center, until this region is safe and affirming for everyone. The person who shouted that word at me last month probably doesn’t know that there are many in my community that would hear something like that, and potentially end their life. This is not acceptable in 2022 to me, nor should it be to anyone. When I got my Master’s degree in Social Work in New York City, my professional focus was on LGBTQ+ homeless youth. Something about working with kids who risked everything to come out and be authentically themselves, only to become homeless and experience untold abuse, sexual assault, trafficking, and other horrible things, fundamentally changes me. It was a curtain I could not “unlook” behind. Once I knew about their experiences, and that it is all born from hate and ignorance, I also knew I had to do something about it. 

  • Osun Zotique, OutHudson Executive Director

Osun Zotique moved to CapNY in 2015, and lives in Hudson. Zotique is the Executive Director of OutHudson, and recently ran for office in the Congressional Primary to represent New York’s 19th District, making them the first openly transgender non-binary individual to run for federal elected office. 

Why is Pride month special to you?

Pride Month is special to me because I realize that it’s something we still actually really need. We really need that continuous work of individual and community self acceptance. In spite of any advances that we have made, which we certainly have seen basic civil and human rights for our gender identity and sexual orientation, that process of self-acceptance is ongoing, and it’s a lifelong and evolving journey for every human being on this planet. Actually, whether they identify as LGBTQIA+ or not, the fact of the matter is that we all have something to learn about our humanity vis-a-vis our gender and sexuality. 

How are you involved in Pride across CapNY?

I took over the directorship of OutHudson and brought back the parade and festivities after the pandemic. I also recently ran for elected office in the United States Congress. NY’s 17th congressional district, and was the first transgender, non-binary person to do so. And it’s been a very exciting journey and a very privileged platform to try to speak to everything that’s going on for all of us who are living, working and potentially struggling to make ends meet at this community and state, both LGBTQIA+ and also our straight allies. 

Why are you passionate about what you do?

I’m passionate about doing what I do because I actually moved to the state of New York when I was 18, and the environment where I grew up was not particularly accepting. So for me, it’s really important to help continue creating the environment that I would like to be part of and a space where queer ingenuity and creativity can flourish. Both my own, but also the folks around me and my neighbors and friends and the people who we support.

  • Atsushi Akera, Co-founder of Cafe Euphoria and Board of Directors at the Pride Center of the Capital Region

Atsushi Akera grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, and moved to the Capital Region in 1999, when she was hired as a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Akera has been a professor at RPI in the field of science and technology studies for the last 23 years, and is retiring this month. She lives in Troy and is the co-founder and General Manager of Cafe Euphoria, as well as a board member at the Pride Center of the Capital Region. 

Why is Pride month special to you?

That’s a big question, given Roe V Wade, and everything that’s happened. I’m on the board of directors of the Pride Center for the Capital Region. Many of us are afraid that once the conservatives get that kind of momentum, they’re going to go after other things, including gay marriage. And so it’s a time for the community to band together. Pride Month is so important because it brings the entire community together. I think segments of our community have felt that they’ve won the victories that needed to be won, and had gotten to the point where activism and change wasn’t very high on their agenda. And so this year’s Pride events have been so important in reestablishing the notion that we still have a really important role to play in giving support to those who are otherwise oppressed and discriminated against in our society. 

How are you involved in Pride across CapNY?

I’m on the board of the Pride Center of the Capital Region, and I oftentimes volunteer for the Pride events with the Pride Center, as well as serve as an ally and supporter for the Say it Loud! Black and Latino Pride event. But the ways in which I was involved this year, was more focused on the launching of Cafe Euphoria. So as a consequence, most of my new duties had to do with the cafe. We had a presence at the Pride events, taking part as a food vendor, selling vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian fare. Cafe Euphoria also had eight different events of our own throughout the month. 

Why are you passionate about what you do?

Because it’s necessary. It’s so necessary. Going into the pandemic, mental health rates were in excess of 50% among the transgender community. Suicide rates were one of the highest. Gender remains one of the strongest constructs in our society, along with race, so there’s all kinds of problems that many members of our community face. There are many people who are supportive, but job loss remains a major issue within our community. And that’s why Cafe Euphoria is built around creating jobs for, and a safe space for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. We are very much a trans visibility project. We created a business model very specifically on the idea that there are people out there who want to support us, and are willing to pay slightly above market rate for food, and then those resources turn into real assets for the trans and gender nonconforming folks who work here.

So it goes a step beyond just a safe space, it creates jobs. And then beyond a restaurant and creating jobs, we have a curated thrift, we have event space, a co-working space, and we have a lounge, as well as two private offices. We have a curated thrift so that if you’re transgender, and you’re totally scared of going to Target to shop in the women’s section for the first time, you can instead come here, to a space where you know that everybody’s going to be supportive of whatever choices you make.

  • Written by: Victoria Diana

Juneteenth in CapNY: 4 Changemakers Paving the Way

“Juneteenth is important because it is the beginning of our history.”
– Lashawn Hawkins, Founder of the I Can Breathe and I Will Speak organization in Fulton County New York
  • CapNY Celebrations

June 19th. Many Americans know that date as Juneteenth, a federal holiday that acknowledges and commemorates the legal ending of slavery in the United States of America. For Black Americans across the country, Juneteenth is our independence day as we honor the end of suffering for those who endured the hardships of slavery. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in the United States June 17, 2021, after President Biden signed it into a federal law. On Juneteenth weekend, organizations throughout CapNY hosted events where people can get together and celebrate the holiday.

  • Amplifying Voices in Albany

In Albany, there were many events celebrating the holiday. The Underground Railroad Education Center, a nonprofit in Albany located on Livingston Avenue, hosted the JuneTEENth Freedom Day Celebration. The celebration was put together by the center’s Young Abolitionist Leadership group, who planned the event, invited numerous vendors including Allie B’s Kitchen, and held activities and presentations for the community.

When asked about the event, cofounder of the center Paul Stewart stated, “Juneteenth is important to this organization because it celebrates the freedom of the African American people in the United States. I am delighted that the young people from the Young Abolitionist Group stepped up and did the work for this event. It had such a great turnout.”

The Underground Railroad Education Center’s mission is to rediscover the full complex history around the Underground Railroad and share it with the community. The center focuses not only on the routes that were taken with the railroad but also the journey of people who made those choices to take the route. Since the nonprofit was established in 2003, the center was able to uncover the railroad’s relationship with other places outside of America including places like Britain, Mexico, and Canada. “This is important work and we need to do this. We need to act on this,” says Stewart.

In addition to this event, families in Albany were able to participate in the Juneteenth celebration held at Ten Broeck Mansion. Located in Arbor Hill, the second oldest neighborhood in Albany, Ten Broeck Mansion held an arts and garden program that honored the holiday by sharing the history of African plants. These plants were then planted into the Mansion’s community garden. “There is such a rich beautiful history associated with these plants that not many know about. Having the opportunity to share this on Juneteenth is very special and important for us to do,” says executive Director of Ten Broeck Mansion, Kathryn Kosto.

Kosto further states, “Ten Broeck Mansion is part of a neighborhood with a lot of children and seniors. We love having the opportunities to give back to them. To make the museum more welcoming. We get the best reviews from our families who come to our events, they’ll invite others to come and join in on the fun.”

The nonprofit focuses on the initiative of sharing the history of Ten Broeck with the Arbor Hill neighborhood and the Capital Region. Ten Broeck Mansion offers many ways for everyone in the community to get involved. They host a free teen camp that supports the arts in the form of making movies, they hold free tours of the mansion where the share the history of it and will be hosting free children’s programs in the summer. “We are trying to be more inclusive and serve the needs of the community. We do a lot, but I still feel there is more we can do,” Kosto states.

  • Giving Back in Gloversville

Not directly in CapNY, but just adjacent to the west, in Gloversville, the I Can Breathe and I Will Speak nonprofit held an event at a local café. Lashawn Hawkins, founder of the organization states, “I knew nothing was going to happen here for Juneteenth, there is such a lack of education or care about it here. It being now a federal holiday, I knew we needed to bring more awareness and celebrate.”

At the event, Hawkins screened a documentary about the organization and had support from the mayor in Gloversville and the Gloversville Police Department. I Can Breathe and I Will Speak is a nonprofit that was created to bridge the gap between community and law enforcement, ultimately strengthening the relationship the people have with one another.

Hawkins, the founder of the organization, made it her personal goal to give back to the young people in her area after having her own difficult time in Gloversville. “Gloversville and Fulton County was the most racist place I’ve ever been when I first moved here. It was non- inclusive, and I knew I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know how then.” When social injustices began to arise during 2020, including the unjust murder of George Floyd, Hawkins went out to protest peacefully. “Young people reached out to protest with me, but me being a mother, I knew I didn’t want to lead them that way. So, I chose to start the nonprofit instead, “she says.

Since creating the nonprofit, Hawkins has given back to her community in many ways. She hosted a job fair, held a back-to-school event for people in need of supplies, and organized a Halloween event during the pandemic where the nonprofit would go to registered houses and deliver candy to kids safely, so that they can still enjoy the Halloween experience. She even put together a “Christmas Eve Car Sleigh” where parents can register how many kids they had, and she would bring toys to the families on Christmas Eve to give to their kids. When asked what motivates her Hawkins states, “The future of the Children here in my community. The kids.”

  • Creating Supportive Spaces in Saratoga

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation celebrated Juneteenth with a “Summer Stroll” event over Juneteenth weekend. The Summer Strolls series is an event that happens every Sunday in the summer season and is hosted by the foundation; this event invites community members to take walking tours around historical areas in Saratoga. On Juneteenth, the foundation hosted a special stroll, led by author Carol Daggs who was able to share more history about the holiday and its relationship with Saratoga.

Membership and program director Nicole Babie believes Juneteenth is important to the foundation stating, “Juneteenth brings important conversations that this country needs to have. The history of Slavery, it can get swept under the rug but that’s important to talk about and recognize.”

The foundation works to strengthen the voices of the community. They hold black history month programs and women’s history month programs. The foundation also uses the history of the buildings in Saratoga to help the community learn and build together with one another. “What drives me everyday is being able to tell the stories of Saratoga Springs that people find both relatable and interesting. We are so much more than the racecourse and there is so much history here and that’s what our organizations preserves. It’s very exciting,” Babie says.

Sunday Summer Stroll spotlights Brandtville community for Juneteenth (WRGB), Credit: CBS 6
  • Written by: Naava Dae

How to Spend 48 Hours in CapNY

CapNY offers the perfect blend of small city charm and rustic nature. The region is a vast area that ranges from the foothills of the Catskills to the foothills of the Adirondacks, and in between those 90 miles are cities, towns, countrysides, forests, mountains and lakes, all with their own unique flares.

Photo: Samascotts Garden Market, learn more below!

Your Summer Rompin’ HQ

The area provides a wide variety of things to do, eat, and drink, and is located just three hours away from New York City. Definitely don’t overlook the Capital Region when planning your next weekend romp this summer. And if you do plan on visiting, here is a 48-hour itinerary to help map out your trip. 

Day 1

Late Afternoon: Arrive in Hudson, NY

If you’re coming from downstate, Hudson is the perfect first stop on your CapNY trip. Hudson sits on, given its name, the Hudson River, and is a quaint small city with an artsy vibe. If you’re a fan of antiquing and interior design, you could spend a whole weekend just here, going up and down Hudson’s main street, Warren Street, to all the shops and boutiques. 

Shop at The Antique Warehouse
When you see the HUGE warehouse that kind of looks like it’s abandoned – DON’T RUN AWAY! This is what’s inside. The Antique Warehouse

Not on Warren street, but definitely a must-see, is The Antique Warehouse, a literal warehouse, filled with furniture, decor, art, and architectural pieces like windows and pillars. Do a little shopping before checking into your hotel.

Check into your hotel!

If you’re in Hudson, you gotta keep with the interior design trend, and stay at The Maker, a beautifully designed boutique hotel, clad in leather, velvet and fringe, making for a luxurious and stylish stay. You won’t have to stray far for dinner, as The Maker has an incredible restaurant right at the hotel. Their restaurant sits in a glass conservatory, and focuses on seasonal plates with a local emphasis. They also have a separate menu in their candle-lit lounge, which serves more casual fare, as well as craft cocktails, wine and local beer. 

The Maker Hotel

Day 2

Morning: Stop at Bartlett House for breakfast

Once you’ve left Hudson, drive 20 minutes to Ghent, NY, and make sure to stop at the Bartlett House for breakfast. The Maker’s in-house cafe serves Bartlett House’s pastries, but why not go right to the source. Grab a coffee, one of their breakfast sandwiches made on a freshly baked English muffin, and a croissant, because why not? You’re on vacation. 

Check out Art Omi
After breakfast, take a 6 minute drive to Art Omi, a 120-acre outdoor sculpture and architecture park and gallery, where you can enjoy beautiful art pieces while also taking in some fresh air and upstate NY nature. You could easily spend half a day exploring the park, but you can also make it a shorter 2 hour stop, where you stick to one area. Art Omi is completely free, which is always a plus, but donations are encouraged. And make sure to wear your walking shoes, as it’s a nature walk as much as it is an art gallery.
Afternoon: Stop for a snack in Valatie, NY
The feline manager

After checking out Art Omi, head up North towards Troy, NY. If you’re hankering for a snack after all that walking, you can make a pitstop in the town of Valatie on the way. Stop at Golden Harvest Farms for one of their famous apple cider doughnuts, rated the best in the Capital Region, which they have year-round. Or go to Samascotts Garden Market, which has delicious homemade ice cream, and also happens to be a plant nursery. Lap up some ice cream in their greenhouse while you peruse their great indoor plant selection. And make sure to greet their very helpful feline manager.

Arrive in Troy, NY for lunch

Troy is a newly revitalized city that also sits along the Hudson River, just north of Albany. You could say Troy has a bit of a Brooklyn vibe, but it truly does have its own unique personality. Depending on what time you arrive, you might be able to hit Troy’s popular farmers market, right in the heart of its downtown, which runs from 9 am to 2 pm every Saturday. The farmers market not only has fresh fruit and vegetables, but also a ton of food vendors serving up all kinds of cuisines. If you miss it, no fret, as there’s plenty of restaurants in the cute downtown. 

Grab a coffee and walk around Washington Park
Do it for the gram at Superior Merchandise Company

If you need a pick-me-up afternoon coffee, make sure to stop at Superior Merchandise Company. I recommend their iced latte with oat milk, it’s my favorite in the Capital Region. And while you’re waiting for your coffee order, you can shop the store’s perfectly curated, vibesy assortment of candles, glassware, clothes, and stationery. Enjoy your coffee on their back patio or walk a few minutes to the historic Washington Park. The park is gated, as it is one of the few private parks in New York State, however, the cobblestone streets and houses around the park are stunning. So much so, the HBO show Gilded Age filmed there. 

Get lunch at Nighthawks

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab some lunch at one of the many restaurants in downtown Troy. If it’s before 3 pm, you can’t beat Brunch at Nighthawks, a farm to table restaurant with an often changing menu depending on what’s in season, although their popular burgers are always available to order, veggie ones as well. And they always have at least one vegan option on their Brunch menu. Other options for lunch include the al pastor tacos from La Capital Tacos and the beef bulgogi from Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen. 

Pick up a bottle of natural wine
Twenty-Two 2nd Wine Co.

If you’re a fan of natural wine, make sure to stop at Twenty-Two 2nd Wine Co. The boutique wine store offers a great selection of unique, small-production, naturally-made wines from around the world. I especially love their selection of orange/skin-contact wines. 

Early Evening: Drive up to Saratoga Springs

Once you’ve had your fill of Troy, take the 30 minute drive North to Saratoga Springs. It is still a beautiful little city, featuring a walkable downtown with plenty of shops and restaurants, idyllic parks, and is in close proximity to lakes and hiking trails. Check into your hotel, like the newly renovated The Adelphi Hotel, which sits right on Broadway, in the heart of downtown Saratoga. Freshen up and get ready for a night on the town. 

Grab dinner at Hamlet and Ghost

Walk over to Hamlet and Ghost, a popular haunt in Saratoga Springs, that serves craft cocktails and modern American fare. Be sure to make a reservation, as it is very busy most nights, and for good reason. I’m partial to their oysters, and grass-fed burger with duck confit fries, but their vegetable small plates are also incredible, like their broccolini with cured egg yolk, mint, and tonnato sauce.

Night: Go to 9 Maple Ave for an after-dinner cocktail

After dinner, walk across the street to 9 Maple Ave, an intimate moody 1880’s area bar with a wide selection of liquor. Order their Espresso Martini, it’s amazing, while you listen to live jazz.

After 9 Maple Ave, you could go next door to the nightclub, The Nite Owl, for some dancing, or go bar hopping down Caroline Street, which is right around the corner, and lined with bars, many featuring outdoor patios or rooftops, so you can enjoy the warm summer nights. 

Day 3

Morning: Morning: Grab coffee and a quick breakfast

Wake up early, and nurse that hangover with a quick coffee and breakfast from the nearby Saratoga Coffee Traders or Uncommon Grounds. Saratoga Coffee Traders have great, quick, made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, and Uncommon Grounds is often voted as the best bagels in the Capital Region. 

Pack a lunch for later from Putnam Market

Stop by the Putnam Market to get all the makings for a picnic lunch, I recommend ordering a sandwich on their baguettes, you won’t be disappointed. They also have a great selection of cheeses if you want to pack the makings of a charcuterie board. Check out of your hotel, grab some sunscreen, and head out for a day on Saratoga Lake. 

Go boating on Saratoga Lake

About a 10 minute drive from downtown Saratoga is Saratoga Lake. The idyllic lake is a popular spot in the summer months for boating, hanging out on the beach, or eating at one of the many restaurants that line its coast. Charter a pontoon boat for a half day (9 am to 2 pm) at Vivi E Basta Rentals, or rent kayaks, also at Vivi’s or at The Kayak Shak, which is located just upstream on a creek that feeds right into the lake. Enjoy a day in the sun and water, and if you still have some time before traveling back home, snag an Adirondack chair at Dock Brown’s Beach Bar for a cold drink to end the day.

  • Written by: Victoria Diana

Victoria Diana is a writer, director, and stand-up comedian born and based in Schenectady, NY.

Thriving in CapNY: Women in Digital Gaming

Updated: July 2025

CapNY offers a level up for those looking to break into the gaming space. Jobs in game design, character development, software, and so much more are plentiful with 24 studios (7 large, 17 indie) calling the region home.

An Industry BOOMING

Many have produced games of our childhoods such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater as well as present day digital escapes like Cooking Mama. At present, CapNY is home for more than 500 employees in the gaming industry from large, developed studios like Blizzard Entertainment to smaller, indie studios like Clockwork Games & Events.

The education needed for many of these roles can be earned at one of several CapNY schools. Specifically, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute –ranked 7th Best Undergraduate Game Design Program by U.S. News & World Report– offers up to a Ph.D in critical game design, among many other programs. The University at Albany launched a video game design program in 2021, shortly following the launch of its increasingly popular eSports program launched in 2019. 

We caught up with five women who are making their mark in the CapNY digital gaming world to discuss their paths, favorite CapNY spots, and what they love about working in the gaming field. From the moment an idea for the game gets going to the time it’s launched in stores, there are so many moving parts and years of expertise that go into every game out there. These ladies shared more about what they do as well as what advice they have to others looking to break into the industry.

Millie Harris, Technical and VFX Artist at Aestronauts and RPI student

Hometown: Barrington, RI
Currently Lives In: Troy
Favorite CapNY activity: Troy Waterfront Farmers Market

Harris has always loved gaming and art. She wondered, when it was time to start looking at colleges, if it might be possible to pursue both. She found RPI and then saw it was.

“I met all the people here. I knew that this was definitely the right fit for me and they have a really, really amazing game development program as well,” she said.

As part of her studies, she and several other students got to work on Aestronauts, now a small game development studio, through the STEAM garden program. Since it’s a small shop, she has to pitch in everywhere but her focus is digital sculpting, which uses software to push, pinch, shape a digital object to its desired look. Talk about a perfect match of technology and art!

“I take those sculpted models and I get them game ready, and then I create rigs for them so that our animator can bring the characters to life,” she said. “I feel like I can kind of touch on a bunch of different aspects of development and not just stick in one pillar or another, I can kind of reach into the art world a little bit and also like the technical programming world which is my favorite thing about being a technical artist.”

The gaming world is still a male-dominated industry; Harris notes she is often one of a few women in her classes. But, finding those other female classmates and creating a supportive environment has been incredible, she says.

Kathryn Ruiz, Founder, Lead Artist, Designer, Director and Producer of Eco Resilience Games and RPI Associate Professor

Currently lives in Glenmont, NY; studio in the Catskills
Favorite CapNY activity: Hiking, biking along the water–particularly the Hudson

Eco Resilience Games combines science, technology, and art to raise awareness about the condition and health of our water supply through immersive worlds to raise awareness for how to protect our real world. 

Ruiz worked on some of the first virtual reality programs in the 90s and it started her on a path to become a game creator and educator.

“I saw that I could express what I wanted to express through virtual, audio, and spatial ways using virtual reality. And gaming then began picking up speed and began commenting on our culture and I was hooked.”

Now, she teaches several courses in RPI’s Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences program and encourages her students to create games that contribute to the greater good and perhaps shy away from often violent or graphic games. She does this in a course called Games & Guts which challenges her students to create games outside of the gore realm. 

Just like her most recent launch, Algae Bloom Dynamics, a game focused on the magnitude Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) have in freshwater around the world. The game enables users to experience a clear-water lake that begins to have inputs of phosphorus from human activities. As this continues, underwater clarity will decline as the non-harmful algae begin to make the water green. The user must then make a plan to restore the water quality.

“We use our technology and design to show people what can happen to our world,” she said.

Steph Relyea, Producer, Blizzard Entertainment

Hometown: Plattsburgh, NY
Currently lives: Troy
Favorite CapNY activity – Whitewater rafting in the North Country, more locally – exploring downtown Troy

Relyea has always enjoyed gaming, but it was a spur-of-the-moment decision that started her journey to working behind-the scenes. She spotted an opening for a QA test at then-Vicarious Visions (now Blizzard Entertainment) and she went for it. It was a great learning experience, she said. In that role, she tested the games for function and overall experience.

After leaving the industry for a few years, she returned as a tools tester which helped her become a specialist in the software. Through the studio’s mentorship program and combined with her years of experience in the service industry, production seemed like a great fit.

“I have learned so much, I have challenged myself so much along the way, I love to learn and overcome new things,” she said. “As hard as it is, putting yourself out there is the key. All it takes is one person to give you a chance and it can change your whole path.” 

Day-to-day, she helps manage the teams and people that create games like Tony Hawk Proskater, Diablo IV, and Destiny. In a way, things have come around again now she’s mentoring those who were in her shoes at the start of her gaming career. Production roles can be a lot of juggling many moving parts and a key piece of success is making sure you don’t take on too much, she said. 

“If I can’t take something on and complete it without being stretched thin, I’m not going to do it. But that was one of the hardest things to learn, saying no when you’re at your max,” she said.

Adrienne Lange, 3D Character Artist, Blizzard Entertainment

Home state: Connecticut 
Currently lives: Colonie
Favorite CapNY activity – Indoor rock climbing and the Troy or Colonie Farmers Market

Lange was always an art lover but initially pursued a career as a behavioral therapist. Eventually, she felt a pull to pursue a more creative job. She taught herself the nuance of game design and technique to build on her natural artistic ability. 

“I did online courses, YouTube, and built up my portfolio,” she said. She then began applying to game design jobs and landed at Blizzard Entertainment. 

Now, she creates the monsters, animals, creatures, and people that are a core piece of a game. She has to make sure they look how they should before they move on to animators to start moving. 

“There is a lot of collaboration and working together so you have to enjoy those things in addition to being a creative person,” she said. “But yes, it is very, very exciting to see something you’ve created walking around and talking in a virtual setting. Exciting not only personally, but because it often represents a lot of people’s work.”

Being the creative mind behind many characters, including some in Diablo II, is a particularly rewarding career highlight for Lange. “I grew up watching my dad and eventually playing Diablo myself,” she said. “For me to be working on another game in the series is a truly full circle moment.”

Muse en Lystrala, Executive Director/Lead Composer Queenship Game Studio

Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island
Favorite CapNY based activity: I love hiking in the Catskills and High Peaks and getting burgers or garbage plates after!

As Queenship’s founder and a small company owner, she wears a lot of hats. As lead composer, she composes and records all the musical and sound assets for Queenship’s games. Juggling all these things –even with help- sounds exhausting, but she makes sure her employees take care of themselves. It’s perfectly on brand too, as Queenship’s games focus on mental health and management.

“I love that each day is different. One day I may be working on marketing tasks, the next composing music, the next writing narrative,” she said. “And as a person who suffers from chronic illness, I am very much a fan of the “work smart, not hard” school of thought, and doing this permits me to do just that.”

Coupling her love of music and gaming became a viable career option while she was studying at SUNY Schenectady. She started a chamber ensemble called Geek Musica, a classical group that performs video game and film music. A couple of years in, she started doing game jams at the Tech Valley Game Space. 

“After a year and a half or so of digging into the guts of game development, I realized that I had a good set of skills to either work in game development or to start my own company,” she said. Queenship was accepted to RPI’s Level Upstate accelerator program in summer of 2019, when the company also got its first investment and they have launched two games, and a third is very close!

Starting her own company means she’s not only the lead creative person but the human resources department, marketing, finance, and so much more. She has learned every aspect of what goes into a game as well as valuable workplace lessons.

“The best advice I can offer other women/femmes/femme-presenting people is this: prepare to be on your own, at least for awhile. It’s harsh, but it’s true. Seek out and befriend other women/femmes/femme-presenting people in games to learn from, to be mentored by, and to assist when you’ve started doing well. Develop new and existing skills by reading, watching YouTube tutorials, or investing in continuing education at your university or via an online platform like Coursera.

You’ll need to know a lot, and you won’t always be able to count on the big players to give you the information you need or want. Join Discord servers that aim to promote marginalized people, like Game Dev Galaxy or POC in Play. You’ll find people who have struggled to get to where you want to go and want to help you succeed.”

  • Written by: Lauren Mineau

The New Tech Valley: 5 CapNY Companies With Global Impact

Updated: July 2025

Meet the amazing tech companies that make CapNY one of the nation’s fastest growing metro areas for manufacturing jobs!

We’ve Come a Long Way

In the late 1990s, under the moniker “Tech Valley,” NY’s Capital Region committed to competing with major tech players like Boston and Silicon Valley. 

Now, CapNY has built a strong foundation of tech-centered education at RPI. Plus, companies like Global Foundries and General Electric — and others you’ll meet below — are making major strides in industries like medicine, software, semiconductors, and more. 

CapNY has increased semiconductor patents and has been named a top contender location for tech jobs. Additionally, CapNY is one of the fastest growing metro areas for manufacturing jobs!

Here’s the scoop on some of the hottest CapNY “Tech Valley” companies you should know…

GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GF), Malta

GLOBALFOUNDRIES® (GF®) is a global semiconductor manufacturing company. Translation: GF produces chips that power everything from smartphones, tablets, and laptops, to 5G and automobiles! And, since 2009, over $15 billion has been invested in GF’s flagship manufacturing site, Fab 8, located in Saratoga County. 

Worldwide, GF employees approximately 15,000 people at sites in 14 locations across the world. 3,000 of them work right here in CapNY. A 2018 Georgetown University study on the Economic Impact of GF on the Capital Region identified over 18,000 jobs created since 2009. There’s also been expansion of regional infrastructure, housing, entertainment, and other attractions in Saratoga County and the region overall. 

GF is also committed to CapNY’s STEM education. “Our partnerships with the Capital Region’s colleges and universities help support our talent pipeline,” Benyon said. “(We’re) engaging K-12 students through science fairs, STEM expos, career panels and career fairs. We see STEM continuing to grow in our area, which is critical to our future talent pipeline.”

The range of opportunities at GF is impressive. “GF employs engineers and technicians, as well as people in IT, finance, business, operations and more,” said Peter Benyon, VP and General Manager at Fab 8. “Through our diversity and inclusion initiatives, GF is increasing representation of women and developing them at all levels within the company. Many of our women leaders have been recognized for excellence by community organizations.”

PVA, Cohoes

This Cohoes-based company creates equipment used in automated dispensing and spray coating across industries from automotive electronics, medical, alternative energy, and aerospace. Translation: PVA’s customers employ their robotics to precisely glue parts together or selectively apply a protective film on circuit boards to protect electronics from moisture, vibration, and foreign debris.

PVA is routinely recognized as an industry leader. They are a three-time winner of Circuits Assembly’s Service Excellence Award. And, to great acclaim, PVA developed and manufactured an emergency ventilator during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Being located in CapNY has been a huge positive for PVA. The Albany area is centrally located and has the benefits of a big city with a small city feel. The abundance of local colleges and universities provides a diverse, qualified pool of potential employees,” Hart said. And, “with customers around the world, the ease of Albany International Airport is vital. We have visitors and are shipping products daily.”

With sites in The Netherlands and China, PVA has a global reach from their Spindle City site. Exports account for over 60% of their total sales. Their customers are often in high volume manufacturing environments like China, Mexico, and India, according to Frank Hart, Managing Director – Global Sales and Marketing.

Kitware Inc., Clifton Park

Kitware creates custom R&D software solutions to help companies solve advanced scientific challenges. Some cool examples: They’ve built algorithms that can spot fake news or count marine wildlife, and technology that is used to help detect and treat cancer and plan complex surgery. Their computing tools can stimulate blood flow in the body for medical research, and others can analyze trends in climate data.

Founded in 1998 by Will Schroeder, Ken Martin, Lisa Avila, Bill Hoffman, and Charles Law, the leaders shared a passion to bring advanced visualization technology to the world. 

Using Kitware’s VTK software, this image depicts a particle and streamline visualization of airflow around a helicopter rotor. VTK allows us to render complex data at the high frame rates required for virtual reality.
One of Kitware’s core capabilities is artificial intelligence. We’ve developed software tools that allow scientists to analyze image and video data collected from different camera systems mounted on various platforms.

Early on, Kitware secured funding from the National Library of Medicine. This success led to an open source business model that eliminates competition and encourages collaboration. Impressively, they’ve grown from five original employees to over 200 worldwide, with over 100 in CapNY. And,the company remains 100% employee owned.

“Kitware is proud to have our roots and our headquarters in New York’s tech valley. We are surrounded by so much innovation and growth,” said Lisa Avila, president and CEO of Kitware. “CapNY offers some of the best culture, arts, and leisure activities in the country. The region’s proximity  to NYC and Boston, as well as the surrounding academic institutions, makes it an attractive place to live, work, play and learn.”

Vyv, Troy

Founded in Troy in 2012, Vyv (formerly Vital Vio) invented a revolutionary, UV-free approach to cleaning. Translation: Vyv’s antimicrobial lights allow people to live and work freely around Vyv lights, without the limitations of UVs. You’ll find Vyv products in overhead lighting, inside consumer products, behind elevator buttons, and in industrial processes. 

Vyv began when CEO and co-founder, Colleen Costello’s grandmother contracted a serious — and preventable — MRSA infection during hospital stay. A biomedical engineering student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Costello’s research revealed that this was not an isolated incident. As a result, she and a team of engineers at RPI developed a smarter way to manage bacteria levels. Subsequently, Vyv invented proprietary continuous-use, UV-free antimicrobial light technology.

From idea to implementation, Vyv has found CapNY to be an ideal home to build upon that bright idea. 

“This has been a great area to grow our company,” said Costello. “First, there is a high-quality talent pool coming from our universities. Also, the business ecosystems have helped us to grow. And, this area’s high quality of life make us feel fortunate to be part of this community.” 

Vyv partners globally with FORTUNE 500 companies, including Delta Air Lines, Dorel Juvenile, Broan-Nutone, Middleby and a myriad of major healthcare systems.

Regeneron, Rensselaer and Troy

Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases, from eye diseases to cancer.

The company was founded by physician-scientists in 1988 and they quickly recognized the importance of in-house production capabilities. Therefore, they acquired the former Sterling Pharmaceuticals facility in Rensselaer and began making product for clinical trials.

Today, all of Regeneron’s nine FDA approved medicines are made at their production site in Rensselaer. In 2018, the company announced they would invest $850 million to expand existing operations and build a new fill and finish facility on Tempel Lane in East Greenbush.

Most recently, they stepped up to aid in COVID-19 treatment and research. Their antibody cocktail helps those suffering from the disease experience less severe symptoms and hopefully, make a strong recovery. More on that here.

When asked why Regeneron likes doing business in CapNY, Christine Childrose, Vice President of Human Resources responded, “The Capital Region has been a great place for Regeneron to grow and expand. In the last three years alone, we have hired more than 1,300 talented people with more than 30% of our entry level roles coming from local colleges and universities. With excellent school districts, an affordable cost of living, vibrant downtowns and a wide range of cultural and recreational opportunities, the Capital Region is also increasingly attractive to people looking to relocate for a better quality of life.”

  • Written by: Lauren Mineau

Five CapNY Artisanal Foods You Must Try!

Updated: July 2025

CapNY is every foodie’s dream!
We have an abundance of farm-to-table restaurants, nationally known farms, and incredibly unique food producers. Read on to learn more about five artisanal food makers that have some serious CapNY flare…CAUTION, we recommend reading this after you’ve already had a snack…may cause hunger.
Saratoga Peanut Butter Company is a woman-owned artisanal nut butter business based out of Saratoga Springs, NY. Owner Jessica Arceri mixes all of her butters in small batches without adding palm oils, cane sugars, preservatives, or artificial flavor. Each peanut butter, almond butter, and peanut-almond butter blend contains little to no sodium and are naturally gluten-free.

Twelve butter varieties are available online, and seasonal blends pop up throughout the year.  There’s traditional — and delicious! — Plain Jane. If you like a little chocolate, try Chillin Chocolate Peanut Butter for a sweet-and-salty vibe.  Want to try peanut butter with a kick? Let Slow Burner Spicy Garlic Peanut Butter ignite your senses.  Arceri is most proud of Adirondack Jack. “It is a peanut/almond butter blend with cranberries, flax, cinnamon, and honey.  It’s off the charts delicious!”

How — and Why — Saratoga Peanut Butter Co. Began

Arceri started making peanut butter for friends at SUNY Cortland.  After the birth of her son Abe, she started experimenting and concocting unique, innovative nut butters at home.  “I started the company officially in 2005.  I loved peanut butter and healthy foods.  At the time, there were very limited all-natural options, and many still added cane sugars and palm oils.”  

At first, Arceri’s blends were only sold at local stores and The Saratoga Farmers Market.  Now, you can find Saratoga Peanut Butter Co. butters at Capital Region markets of all sizes, from Hannaford and Price Chopper to Indian Ladder Farms.  

Top-notch quality and outrageously fun butters are 2 things that make Saratoga Peanut Butter Co. worth the spotlight.  The third is the company’s mindfulness about sustainability.  “We have minimal waste and reuse cardboard to ship orders,” says Arceri.  “We recycle everything and repurpose whenever we can.”  

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All Vital Eats hot sauce, jerky, “cheezy” dips and salsas are delicious, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and 100% free of artificial preservatives. Offering healthier substitutes for common favorites without giving up taste has been the owners’ mission since Vital Eats started in 2013. Back then, cousins and Vital Eats owners Jude Goldman and Reuben Schwartz were testing recipes in their kitchens and anticipating the rapid growth in demand for plant-based products in CapNY/the Capital Region.

From the beginning, Goldman wanted Vital Eats to be easy to find for all customers, regardless of status or location.  “We try to make the products accessible to those who may not be ‘the elite’,” Goldman explains.  Now, shoppers can grab Vital Eats from grocery shelves across New York State, at markets, or online.

For Goldman and Schwartz, riding the wave of the “[fill in the blank]-free” food culture leaves sample room for experimentation.  

All Vital Eats hot sauce, jerky, “cheezy” dips and salsas are delicious, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and 100% free of artificial preservatives. Offering healthier substitutes for common favorites without giving up taste has been the owners’ mission since Vital Eats started in 2013. Back then, cousins and Vital Eats owners Jude Goldman and Reuben Schwartz were testing recipes in their kitchens and anticipating the rapid growth in demand for plant-based products in CapNY/the Capital Region.
Albany Is an Entrepreneurial Mecca

CapNY/Albany remains one of the best cities for an entrepreneur to explore a cool idea and start a business.  Goldman lists CapNY Farmers Markets as a valuable source of information.   

“If you’ve got something new and unique and it is something that people want, Albany is a good place to start.  Here, you can get immediate feedback at the markets.  You’re able to test your product before you take it elsewhere.” 

Goldman is happy to help motivated entrepreneurs who want their business to grow.  The recent Vital Eats expansion gives young or novice food producers a change to start their business in a license commercial kitchen.

“We recently started producing for small business that may not have the equipment, space, or kitchen to do it themselves.”  He hopes the Vital Eats facility located in South Albany brings attention and opportunity to the neighborhood.  “We hope to bring jobs to economically depressed areas in Albany.”

The Four Fat Fowl creamery operates within an old schoolhouse in Stephentown, NY. Willy and Shaleena Bridgham and Josie Madison have been making and selling artisan cheese in Rensselaer County since 2013. They introduced their signature St. Stephen soft cheese in 2014, which went on to win medals at the New York State Fair three years in a row. Later, the creamy, the more pungent, rich Camembertha and versitile Inagadda Ricotta joined the product line.

Cheesemaker Willy Bridgham’s undeniable craftsmanship is clear at first taste.  He and wife Shaleena opened Four Fat Fowl after Willy spent ample time as an apprentice cheesemaker in Hudson, NY.  

“We thought, ‘We can do this!’” Shaleena exclaims, recalling the beginning of their small business journey.

After exceeding expectations and experiencing rapid growth. Four Fat Fowl moved from a renovated pizzeria to its current location on Route 43.  They use more than 500 gallons of Jersey cow milk from Dutch Hollow Farm every week.  Sourcing local dairy is important to the Four Fat Fowl process.  Cutting down on shipping time and distance is essential to the quality and taste of the cheese. 

A Commitment to Rensselaer County

Locality isn’t only imperative for freshness, it is the core of Four Fat Fowl culture.  Both the name and the location of the creamery are odes to Rensselaer’s history.  All three owners are from Stephentown, and their hometown pride oozes like the cheeses they produce.  Why did they decided to stay in Stephentown when they moved to a larger facility?  Shaleena smiles, “It’s home.”

Though the owners do not agree on their favorites (Willy and Shaleena prefer St. Stephen.  Josie loves the Ricotta!) they all share the same sentiments about the importance of teamwork and their community.  

“Stephentown has been incredibly supportive,” says Madison.  “Some of our best customers live right in town.” They’ve also got wonderful distribution with stores and restaurants, including Tribeca Grill in Manhattan, and Whole Foods locations throughout the region.

Such unwavering loyalty is what makes the Four Fat Fowl team work so well.  “We are super lucky to have a fantastic team of amazing employees who have been with us since the beginning.”

Want to dress your next charcuterie or your next cracker with a Four Fat Fowl cheese?  Find it here, stop by their store at 473 NY Route 43 or purchase online!

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The folks at Muddy Trail Jerky Co. in Washington County are keeping up with the Capital Region’s interest in healthy, small batch foods by offering a vast variety of handmade jerkies, seasonings, pickles, dips, and baking kits. Owners Mary and René Lussier work as a team at their store in Greenwich, NY. They started Muddy Trail in 2015 after Mary’s jerky proved to be a hit amongst family and friends. Now, Muddy Trail is a multi-product seller helping patrons explore a colorful range of spice and flavor at local markets and events.

Muddy Trail Jerky goes fast, so Mary must replenish almost daily.  She carefully slices and seasons the Washington County beef to make her flagship product.  “We marinate the meat in our own marinades for at least 48 hours.  Then, we dehydrate the meat for another four hours.”

Innovation Abounds at Muddy Trail

Locality isn’t only imperative for freshness, it is the core of Four Fat Fowl culture.  Both the name and the location of the creamery are odes to Rensselaer’s history.  All three owners are from Stephentown, and their hometown pride oozes like the cheeses they produce.  Why did they decided to stay in Stephentown when they moved to a larger facility?  Shaleena smiles, “It’s home.”

Though the owners do not agree on their favorites (Willy and Shaleena prefer St. Stephen.  Josie loves the Ricotta!) they all share the same sentiments about the importance of teamwork and their community.  

This time-consuming technique strays away from commercial practice.  It is the reason Muddy Trail jerky holds such strong, intense flavor, like the zing of citrus of the Jalapeño Lime Jerky and the northeast style sweetness of their new Maple Rounds.  

The Lussiers stay up to date and adopting to trends, including the nation’s latest uptick in home cooking.  “Last year, more people started cooking at home,” says René Lussier.  For the Lussiers, it was an opportunity for innovation.  “People started asking for different mixes, so we made them!”  

Muddy Trail offers Everything Bagel seasoning, Sloppy Joe Mix, Maple BBQ mix, and almost everything in between.  “We put real pieces of lemon in our Lemon Pepper, and real orange and whole cloves in our mulling spice,” René says, displaying the beauty of the spices through the clear package.  

The Muddy Trail Jerky Co. store is across from two CapNY/Capital District staples, 1) The Washington County Fairgrounds; and 2) The Ice Cream Man, creating one of the best food tour triangles in the region.  Feel free to stop by the store and meet the owners and browse their offerings, or catch Muddy Trail Jerky at the Troy Farmers Market and upcoming local events!

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Shane Avery’s Saratoga-based brewing company Junbucha is popularizing Jun, a close cousin to kombucha. Though the two beverages are both fermented using a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast), Jun is made with green teas and honey, while kombucha is made with black tea and cane sugar. Jun has a lighter, more delicate taste. This helps bring out the traits of the added fruits, flora, or fauna. 

Jasmine Junbucha bursts with floral notes of the sweet jasmine flower.  The Ginger Yerba Mate Junbucha yields both a warm spicy comfort and an invigorating jolt to the senses.  New Pineapple Tumeric combines the succulence of organic pineapple juice with the raw complexity of turmeric. It’s packed with antioxidants. Best yet — it fights inflammation!

Junbucha has natural probiotic qualities, which could improve and maintain gut health.  Sometimes, to give Junbucha even more of a boost, Avery creates a specialty batch brewed with adaptogenics, all-natural aids for brain and body function that grow directly from the earth.  Adaptogenic mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, and Cordyceps support the immune system, fight and repair inflammation, sustain energy, and can promote deeper sleep.

Sustainability is at the Heart of Junbucha

Avery’s commitment to sustainability is apparent.  “Your footprint matters,” he confidently states.  All Junbucha ingredients are ethically sourced from trusted suppliers.  They use a solar powered facility.  Waste is either composted or recycled.  Finally, the fizzy elixir is poured into custom swing-top glass bottles.  All Junbucha bottles are recyclable, reusable, and redeemable for cash through the company’s recycling program.

Saratoga’s exuberant history and tight-knit culture make the area an optimal location for a small scale, health-conscious food producer to succeed. 

Dr. Sarah Avery, owner of Moon Cycle Seed Co. (and Shane’s wife and business partner), said they started their businesses in Saratoga County because “Saratoga was built on health and wellness, so it only made sense to start here.”  She says locals appreciate high-quality, well-crafted products like Junbucha. “An entrepreneur pours their heart into their product.  Community members appreciate this.”

It is this special direct relationship between business, brewer, and buyer that fuels Junbucha’s growth and innovation.  “It is a beautiful cycle of creating and sharing.”

New, old, and curious shoppers can find 6 refreshing flavors of Junbucha at local farmers markets, restaurants, cafes, and online. 

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  • Written by: Brennan Austin Peters